Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

Block 28
LOTS 263 and 264 (EAST OF THE TAYLOE HOUSE)

January 20, 1949

Investigation of these lots from the usual sources (York County Records, Hening's Statutes, Harwood's Ledger, Land Tax Accounts, manuscript files, landscape and garden cards) has failed to discover anything definite as to ownership before the mid-eighteenth century.

Apparently, a John Gladist held the property to the east of the Tayloe lot as early as 1740. (York County Records - William Roscow to John Collett, May 1940 - cite Gladist to the east.) Nothing is known about Gladist other than the information in the deed to Collett.

In 1744 Collett conveyed his property [lot 262] to Benjamin Waller. The lot to the east was then in possession of "John Wall, Gent." It is possible that "John Wall, Gent." could have been the John Wall, Burgess from Brunswick County who served from 1736-1747. Certainly, Wall was recognized as a Gentleman. As it was the custom, frequently, for Burgesses to buy or lease houses in the city for their use during the sessions of the Assembly, and as the dates of his ownership of the property very nearly coincide with the duration of his serving as a Burgess, it seems possible that John Wall lived on this lot.

In 1752 Thomas Everard, Clerk of York County, was the owner of the property [lots 263 and 264]. Waller conveyed his lot [262] to James Carter by deed May 12, 1752, noting that Thomas Everard's lots were to the east. Thus, it is clear that Everard gained possession of the lots via Wall, and Wall via Gladist. Everard held the property only a short time. In 1756 he conveyed to Anthony Hay: lots 263 and 264 for consideration of 200 pounds. (It is interesting to note that the consideration named was the same amount as that named for the Carter property.)

Hay held the property until his death in 1771. In 1772 the executors of Hay conveyed to his wife, Elizabeth Hay, for a consideration of 156 pounds 10 shillings, describing the lots thus: "All those two lots of land aforesaid purchased of the said Thomas Everard and Diana his wife ...lying and being in the city of Williamsburg and county of York and denoted in the plan of the said city by the numbers 263 and 264. And all houses, buildings..." In the period between 1775 and 1786 Mrs. Elizabeth Hay contracted with Harwood, carpenter, to make certain repairs to her dwelling house and other property. No mention of any garden has been found in any deed or other material used.

Around 1800 Joseph "Furguson" [Ferguson] came into the lots. Land tax accounts list him as owner of 2 lots; and the College Map (1791?) and the Bucktrout Map (1803) designate "Ferguson" on the two lot east of Tayloe lots, numbered 263 and 264. Also, a deed from Littleton W. Tazewell to William Tazewell for the Tayloe lot, dated December 10, 1801, note "the lot of Joseph Ferguson on the East."